Army to get 1.86 lakh bulletproof jackets

In a big decision, the government has signed a deal for the purchase of 1.86 lakh bulletproof jackets for the Indian Army.

Under the “Make in India” framework, the Army will be procuring 1,86,138 bulletproof jackets (BPJs). The BPJs will be provided by an Indian firm and the jackets have passed all types of trials. They come with added protection level and coverage area.

“The new BPJs will provide 360-degree protection to the soldier in combat, including from latest hard steel core bullets. The concerns for BPJs for the Indian Army, have been raised at the highest levels, even in the civil domain and media reports amidst heightened security situation, along with the borders and in the hinterland in the disturbed areas,”- as per a statement.

For a long time, the Indian Army was looking for more advanced and light BPJ’s as the existing ones are based on old tech and are too heavy to carry sometimes.